Her father frowned.
"What?"
"You leave her alone."
The older man laughed.
"Take her as far into the mountains as you like."
The mountain man looked at the young woman.
For a moment, their eyes met.
She was terrified.
But something about his expression was different from the other men's.
He wasn't laughing.
He wasn't examining her body.
He wasn't making crude remarks.
He looked angry.
Not at her.
At the men surrounding them.
He turned back to her father.
"Untie her wrists."
The older man hesitated.
Then removed the rope.
The mountain man watched until she was free.
Only then did he release the coins.
Her father swept them into his pocket.
And just like that, the young woman was handed over to a stranger.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
What nobody knew was that the mountain man had recognized her father's name.
And he'd been waiting nearly fifteen years for a reason to return to Briar Hollow.
The mountain man didn't open the cabin door immediately.
He moved toward the window, lifted the edge of the curtain, and examined the figures standing beyond the porch.
Her father was there.
Beside him stood two men in heavy winter coats, their horses tied near the woodpile.
Snow had gathered along their shoulders.
One carried a lantern.
The other kept glancing toward the stable as though he regretted agreeing to make the journey.
The mountain man turned toward the young woman.
"Do you want to see him?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"Then you don't have to."
A heavy blow struck the door.
"Open it!"
The mountain man remained still.
Then her father shouted, "I know you can hear me!"
The young woman pulled her loosened brown dress around her shoulders.
She looked pale.
The mountain man noticed.
He crossed the room, retrieved a thick wool blanket, and handed it to her.
"Sit near the fire."
She took the blanket.
"What's he doing here?"
"I intend to find out."
He moved toward the door.
Before opening it, he looked back.
"If you want me to send him away, I will."
She nodded.
"Please."
The mountain man opened the door only far enough to step onto the porch.
Cold air entered the room.
Her father leaned forward.
"About time."
The mountain man blocked the entrance.
"What do you want?"
The older man glanced past him.
"Where's my daughter?"
"Inside."
"Then fetch her."
"No."
Her father blinked.
"What?"
"She doesn't want to see you."
The older man's expression hardened.
"Listen here. I made an arrangement with you."
The mountain man crossed his arms.
"You accepted twenty dollars."
"That's right."
"And you agreed to leave her alone."
Her father laughed bitterly.